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In Focus

Metropolitan Cathedral of St. Andrews, Glasgow

In 1979 it was decided to replace the electronic that was being used for services with a pipe organ and site it on the Choir loft in place of the former organ by Woods and Bruce that had been vandalised previously and was no longer in operation. The Organ in the former Elgin Place Congregational Church a three manual by Henry Willis (2) was chosen. The Church had closed 14 years earlier and this fine instrument had lay in the unheated building almost forgotten about. Unfortunately due to listing authority rules at that time the organ casework could not be removed from the building.

The photograph above shows the start of the removal process. The peculiar paintwork on the front pipes and casework is a remnant from an earlier period when the BBC used the empty building for a recording. Work started on dismantling the remains of the existing organ in the Cathedral in 1980 and the Willis was carefully removed, restored and rebuilt on the West end gallery behind the old Bruce casework. It was decided to retain the Pedal 32ft Open Diapason from the original organ and add it to the Willis specification.

The entire work was completed by January 1981. His Grace, The Most Reverend Thomas Joseph Winning, Archbishop of Glasgow, conducted the service of Blessing and Dedication shortly before Easter of the same year.